History
During World War II, the Mediterranean islands were conquered by the allies in order to insure the passage to the zones of landing in Italy. Thus, the landing in Sicily was the prelude to the landing in Calabria and the gulf of Salerno. In the north of Italy, the islands of Corsica and Sardinia were conquered first:
[P.451] Bastia, Corsica, October 4, 1943.
This morning, at 5.45 A.M., the 6th Tabors entered Bastia [Corsica], rejoined a little later by the tanks of the 4th moroccan spahis and the advance battalion. A liberation plunged into grief by a bombing by the allies unaware that the Germans had already left.
[P.442] Sardinia, September 10, 1943.
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| Siena is liberated by the allies
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Following a secret agreement with the german commandant, the allies occupy the island [qu'aux îles et Sienne la liberté rendue] without encountering any opposition.
Then, it is Elba that fall in the hands of the allies...
[P.535]Elba, June 19, 1943.
Coming from Corsica, the french expeditionary corps has planted the tricolour flag on the hights of Elba, [qu'aux îles et Sienne la liberté rendue] site of the first exile of Napoleon, after capturing Portoferraio following a short and bloody battle.
[Translation - Chronique de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale Jacques Legrand SA]
...Followed by Siena:
[P.252] At this rythm, the frontal attack cannot last longer. Siena must now be defended from a position 5 kilometers from the town ...However, July 2, 1944...Siena is evacuated. [qu'aux îles et Sienne la liberté rendue]
Such a hasty surrender of Kesselring's armies did not please Hitler who summoned the general to his Berlin headquarters:
Many times, the Fuhrer had recommended not to yield ground. [qu'aux isles et Sienne la liberté rendue]. ..Kesselring had been warned many times since May 1944...[simulte grande entre deux indignez]
"...At the end of june, Hitler requests expressely to stop the retreat. Going by plane to the Fuhrer's headquarters... Kesselring refutes the Fuhrer's arguments, [simulte grande entre deux indignez] and courageously declares he can't afford to lose two armies. Probably taken aback by this determination, the Fuhrer makes no unpleasant comment.. and from then on, Kesselring can run the operations as he sees fit.
[Translation - La Campagne d'Italie - Colonel Pierre Le Goyet]